White House: Israeli Election May Affect Peace-Plan Rollout

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Special Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, White House adviser Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, meeting in Jerusalem on June 22, 2018. Photo: US Embassy in Israel.

JNS.org – The Trump administration said on Monday that the Israeli election in April 2019 could affect the timing behind the highly anticipated rollout of its peace plan.

“The upcoming election in Israel on April 9 is one of many factors we are considering in evaluating the timing of the release of the peace plan,” a senior White House official told JNS.

Regarding the timing, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino told JNS earlier this month that “the administration continues to place a high priority on achieving a lasting peace, a comprehensive peace that offers a brighter future for both the Palestinian and Israelis. We remain committed to sharing our vision for this, and we intend to release the president’s vision when the administration has concluded that we are ready.”

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US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and other officials have reportedly warned against releasing the plan during the Israeli election season, so that the vote is not a referendum on the American proposal.

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that the US plan would call for the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, which he opposes.